Cleaner

Most jetting work involves roots in laterals, grease in commercial lines, routine clean-outs, and scheduled municipal maintenance — work that demands consistency, uptime, and a reliable machine. Most jetters can handle it in the short term. But a jetter is a capital investment, and you should think in decades, not months. That’s where pump design matters. Conventional triplex pumps rely on parts that wear out and need regular rebuilds. Over time, that means more parts, more labor, and more downtime.

There was a time when the work van was little more than a rolling storage unit — stocked with fittings, tools and maybe a clipboard riding shotgun. Today, that same space has the potential to be something far more powerful: a mobile command center that strengthens communication, builds trust and elevates the entire customer experience. Contractors are rethinking how technology fits into the day-to-day rhythm of service work.

The nozzle is the most impactful component on a hydro-jetter. A jetter without a nozzle would be like a great service van with no wheels — without a nozzle, the jetter’s gpm and psi power can’t even approach the problem in the pipe, much less clear it. Moreover, the reality is that the nozzle has total control of the jetter’s cleaning power capability. How so?

Many service company owners have the same blind spot. They hire technicians, set a billing rate, stay busy, and wonder why the margins never show up. The answer is almost always the same: They've never truly reckoned with the 60/40 problem. Read more

Since its start in UV-cured lining rehabilitation, Excavation Lafontaine has completed many projects of which it is particularly proud. “One of the most emblematic projects was the rehabilitation of potable water pipes inside the Concorde Bridge in Montréal,” says Mathieu Asselin, Excavation Lafontaine’s director of estimation and project management. “This project involved rehabilitating two 450 mm diameter potable water pipes over a length of 700 meters each.

The General Pipe Cleaners Gen-Ear LE water leak locator is a simplified, more economical tool with stronger sound amplification than other systems. Use it to pinpoint water leaks in residential and commercial water lines, whether they are under concrete slabs, under carpets, or in open fields. The compact amplifier fits easily in the palm of your hand. It provides noise-free amplification with built-in preset audio filters, so you don’t have guess what settings to use.

Jetters Northwest Plumbing Waterjetting Jetter Trailer Jetter This content is sponsored by Jetters Northwest. Sponsored content is authorized by the client and does not necessarily reflect the views of COLE Publishing. View our privacy policy. In this video, Chris Boyles from Jetters Northwest shares three new upgrades to the popular Eagle-300 ‘4020’ jetter for operator convenience and reliability.

The Cold-Shot Pipe Freeze Kit from General Pipe Cleaners allows you to make repairs to pressurized plumbing systems. No need to drain water lines, sprinkler systems, or hot-water systems before cutting pipe or tubing. The Cold-Shot keeps pressurized systems operating while you make repairs. It freezes all types of liquids in steel, copper, cast iron, aluminum or plastic pipes ranging from 1/8 inch to 2 inches (10mm to 60mm) in diameter.

Possibly the only thing more important than investing in new technology is knowing when not to. Tom Markham, co-owner of Mr. Rooter of Binghamton, New York, seems to understand that. Markham is in the process of building out the plumbing and drain cleaning franchise to include more specialized infrastructure services such as trenchless pipe repair.

When people talk about employee burnout in the trades, the conversation usually focuses on long hours, labor shortages, difficult customers, or physically demanding work. While those factors certainly play a role, there is another contributor that often goes overlooked: scheduling. Read more